Want to get a mortgage? Discover how you can beat the effects of a CCJ

Of all the numerous financial packages available out there, a mortgage is one of the most difficult to secure. Not because there are no willing lenders, but because most prospective homeowners often fail to meet their requirements.

And speaking of requirements, none is more crucial to a mortgage application than an applicant’s credit score and CCJ history. Perhaps you’ve had your mortgage application declined in the past, and you are wondering what is it you did wrong?

Well, chances are you either have bad credit, or you have a CCJ attached to your name. So does that mean people with CCJs cannot even attempt to get a property loan these days?

Far from it! In fact, nowadays, lenders take into consideration other criteria aside from credit scores and CCJs, which means that despite a negative credit score or CCJ history, you could still secure a mortgage deal.

All you need are some effective tips and advice to get you started. While you can always get the latter from a website like https://www.getmemymortgage.co.uk/bad-credit/can-i-get-a-mortgage-with-a-ccj/, we will provide you with the former in this article.

Understanding of CCJ

CCJ – an acronym for County Court Judgment – might be your worst nightmare if you are trying to apply for credit cards, mortgages, or opening a bank account. It is a type of court order in the UK that might be registered against you if you fail to repay your creditors. Usually, creditors use it as a last resort to get their money from a defaulting borrower. While the whole process may not seem too detrimental at the time when the order was filed against you, it would eventually turn out to be a big hurdle whenever you want to apply for a financial package like a mortgage.

Tips about getting a mortgage with a CCJ

Indeed, CCJs can mess up your mortgage application process, but with these simple tips, you are surely good to go.

Wait it out

Nobody will want to grant you a loan when your report states that you’ve recently refused to pay your previous creditors. Lenders will logically assume that you are a bad borrower, and you are most likely going to default on your mortgage payment if they grant you a loan. Not only does CCJs damage your creditworthiness, but it also portrays you in the wrong lights in the face of a lender. To avoid being declined, wait it out! At least for a period of up to 3-6 years months after receiving your CCJ order, do not apply for a financial package like a mortgage. However, some lenders might be more lenient with you in terms of the number of months that have passed on a CCJ report, with some accepting a 12 months span, others may be more rigid.

Ensure you settle your CCJ

To stand a better chance of being accepted, ensure that you settle any existing CCJ written against your name. If your CCJ has been marked as “satisfied,” lenders will be more willing to consider your application. Having a satisfactory CCJ report shows that you’ve settled all your outstanding charges and debts, and as such, you are now creditworthy.

Ensure you don’t have a CCJ that is too high

The financial amount of your CCJ can be a major factor. If it’s considered to be too high or too much, it can affect the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio; therefore, lenders are less likely to take the risk.

Ensure you don’t have multiple CCJs

Let’s face it; there is no point compounding your debt burden when you still have some lingering debts to settle. If you have more than one CCJ, lenders will be hyper-reluctant even to consider you. At the bare minimum, try to limit your CCJs.

Save towards a high deposit

Truth be told, nobody really cares about your previous financial history; instead, all they care about is that you are in good stead to repay any loan they offer you. So even if you have an existing CCJ you are yet to settle, lenders may be more willing to consider your application if you are offering them a high deposit percentage. That way, they know that their risk is limited. The size of the expected deposit may vary depending on the type of CCJ you have or the size of it. Additionally, the older the CCJ, the more familiar your deposit percentage should be.

How do I know I have a CCJ?

Did you know that many prospective homebuyers who are unable to secure a mortgage due to their CCJ reports don’t even know that they have a CCJ written against their names? Well, if you’ve been experiencing credit issues, it might be because you have one written against your name. If you are unaware of such a case, it could be because you’ve changed residence and missed the notice, for instance. To be certain, always check your CCJ status at the Register of Judgments, Orders, and Fines before you proceed with your mortgage application. Usually, it often costs ₤4 to check your CCJ status.